Low molecular weight antiviral factors

Abstract

The present invention provides a low molecular weight anti-viral factors isolated from the serum of a hyperimmune regressor line chicken and methods of purifying same. The factors are useful in the treatment and prevention of certain disease states.

We claim: 
     
       1. A composition useful in preventing infectious bursal disease in an animal, the composition produced by isolating from the blood serum of a hyperimmune regressor line chicken at least one low molecular weight factor, obtained by taking peak IV off a G-25 Sephadex column, further purifying the mixture contained in the peak IV column by passage through a Biogel P-2 acrylamide column and taking peak I and combining peak I with an effective amount of a virus that causes infectious bursal disease. 
     
     
       2. A composition useful in preventing infectious bronchitis disease, the composition produced by isolating from the blood serum of a hyperimmune regressor line chicken at least one low molecular weight factor, obtained by taking peak IV off a G-25 Sephadex column, further purifying the mixture contained in the peak IV column by passage through a Biogel P-2 acrylamide column and taking peak I, and combining peak I with an effective amount of a virus that causes infectious bursal disease. 
     
     
       3. A method of preventing infectious bursal disease in an animal comprising the steps of: taking blood serum from a hyperimmune regressor line chicken;   isolating from the blood serum a low molecular weight factor by purifying the serum by taking peak IV off a G-25 Sephadex column;   further purifying the mixture contained in the peak IV column by passage through a Biogel P-2 acrylamide column and taking peak I; and   combining a virus for infectious bursal disease with the product of peak I and administering to the animal the resultant product.   
     
     
       4. A method of preventing infectious bronchitis disease in an animal comprising: taking blood serum from a hyperimmune regressor line chicken;   isolating from the blood serum a low molecular weight factor by purifying the serum by taking peak IV off a G-25 Sephadex column;   further purifying the mixture contained in the peak IV column by passage through a Biogel P-2 acrylamide column and taking peak I; and   combining a virus for infectious bronchitis disease with the product of peak I and administering to the animal the resultant product.   
     
     
       5. The method of claim 3 wherein said animal is a bird and said composition is administered in an amount effective to induce an immune response. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said bird is a hatched bird. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said bird is in ovo. 
     
     
       8. A composition according to claim 1, wherein said low molecular weight factor is included in an amount of from about 100 to about 0.002 Activity Units per unit dose. 
     
     
       9. The method of claim 4 wherein said animal is a bird and said composition is administered in an amount effective to induce an immune response. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said bird is a hatched bird. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 9, wherein said bird is in ovo. 
     
     
       12. A composition according to claim 2, wherein said low molecular weight factor is included in an amount of from about 100 to about 0.002 Activity Units per unit dose.